Air purifier



oct. 15, 1935. C. A DUFFNER 2,017,590

` AIR `PURIFIER Filed Nov. 2, 1933 5 Sheets-Shea*I l IM/ventola FIG. 7

la? m, Ago/mls' fifa/d Oct.- 15, 1935- lc. A; DUFFNER AIR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 2, 19:55 s sheets-sheet 2 .al M -I4 T51 QI 5@ P 2J f l, 7. 7 Z/ ,.M my d Z f 5 365 .Z l///A/ ILI FIG. 5

@w a@ wmf/QM Oct. l5, 1935. c. A. DUFFNER AIR PURIFIER Filed Nv. 2, 1933 5 sheets-sheet s Patented Oct. vl5, 1935 UNITED STATES atterri" oFFicE Am r Carl A. Dnflner, Cleveland Heights. Ohio Application November z, 193s, serial No. 696.355

volcans. (ci. 4-213i This invention relates to an air lter or purliier and more particularly to one especially adapted for use in connection with toilet bowls for the elimination of obnoxious odors. I am aware that other devices of this general nature have been proposed, and the general object of the present invention is to provide, in an economical manner, an eiicient, power-operated, 'airilltering device of a type which embodies the use of an air-nitering, chemical membrane through which the air is drawn by a motor driven suction device. My device is also quickly and easily installed in connection with any toilet bowl, without change in the toilet xture itself, and by an adjustment which is simply and easily made by anyone.

`Further advantages of my invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and the essential features are set out in the claims.`

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a general perspective view of my device when associated with a toilet xture in operative position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the lines 2-2- indicated in Fig 1; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view, as indicated by the lines 3 3 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views of the component parts o'f my device in a partially disassembled relation, and with certain portions removed to more clearly disclose the general features of my device. Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view, in the same general position as Fig. 2, but indicating one method of automatically controlling the operation of my device; Fig. 8 is a general plan view of such a control; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the lines indicated at 9 9 in Fig. 8, while Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view on the lines l0-l il, as indicated in Fig. 8,' Fig. 11 is a partial sectional view through an electric switch adapted to control my device, while Fig. 12 is a view, partly in section, of a modifcation of the automatic control.

My invention includes a sectional casing, indicated generally by the numeral I5, and which is shown as enclosing a motor IB, which drives fans ll and I8, so as to draw air through a foul gas absorbing medium I9, by means of a connecting nozzle 20,'extending from the casing to the toilet bowl.` When placed in operative position the -nozzle is disposed between the toilet seat 2l and medium, or may be provided withl an annular ring, as shown at 24, to which are attached legs or supports 25, which maintain a greater space for air ow between the casingand its support.

'I'his ring 24 also serves to reinforce the bottom 5 of the casing. 'Ihe bottom portion of member '23 may be flared outwardly as at 64 to give greater stability and a pleasing appearance. Above this I have shown another casing, member 26, surrounding the upper portion'o'ffthe motor, and the fan .|1. .This member .may be fastened directly to the member 23, as by screws 2l, or, as shown in Fig. 2, I may provide an annular reinforcing ring 28, attached to the member 26, as by spot-welding, and in turn secured to the lower member 23. Secured to the upper surface of the member 26, as, for instance, by spot-welding, is a cup-shaped member 29, containing air-diverting vanes. This member 29 also serves to reinforce the walls of the casing. A cap member 30 forms the upper portion of the casing, and is shown surrounding the absorbing medium C 9, and extending downwardly to surround fan I8, and inter-fitting with the cup-shapedmember 29,` to which it may be secured in any manner desired. 25 Within the cap 30 I show another member 3l, adapted to hold the absorbing medium in place', and preferably pressed into position so as to be readily removable forv replacement. of the absorbent I9. 'Ihis membery also reinforces the walls of the casing. A shoulder 65 on the cap 30 serves to accurately locate the member 3l. I have shown the casing members 26, 29 and 3l as provided with registering central openings, through which air is adapted to pass. For connecting the nozzle 20 to the casing I-show a nipple member 32, leading from approximately the lmid-portion of the cap 30, and over which the Anozzle 2i) is adapted to it snugly. All intertting sections of the casing are so formed as to provide substantially air-tight joints.

I obtained a pleasing appearance of the casing as a whole, as shown in Fig. 1, by having the bottom are out and by progressively decreasing the outside diameter toward the top. The top 45 cap may have a slightly convex surface to aid the appearance.

The motor I6 may be of a well-known type adapted for use with either. alternating or direct current of the voltages and frequencies usually found in house circuits. This motor is supported in approximately the mid-portion of the casing, and for this purpose I have shown the novel motor supporting bands 33. I prefer to use two metallic straps, having portions 34, adapted to rest against u the motor, and loops 35 extending outwardly to the casing and back-again to other portions lying against the motor. These bands may be supplied with ears36 by which it is clamped about the motor by members 31. The screws or bolts 21, previously mentioned as holding the members 23 and 26 of the casing together, are adapted to 'pass-through the loops 35, thus performing the additional function of supporting the motor in place. I have shown the bolts 21 threaded direct` ly in the metal of ring 28 which is struck up in punching the holes. This is an aid to quickassembly, although the usual nuts might be used.

The motor is adapted to be connected to a house circuit bycon'nection 38, leads from which, as at 39,- may be conducted toa switch 40, located at a convenient position. An opening 69 in the casing is shown for an extension cord. For ease in construction I may locate the leads 39 on the outside of the casing, and a hole 8| is shown to allow this. These leads may be protected and enclosed by the members 4 I, secured to the casing. The switch 40 may be supported by the members 4I as shown in Figi 2.

For the propulsion of the air, I show two fans, I1 and I9, rigidly mounted upon an extension of the motor shaft 42. These fans may be con'- structed .of any material, but in my preferred form I have constructed 'them of phenolic derivative mouldings. The fans are shown as located oneon either side of the member 29, upon which 4are supported vane members 43. These vanes may be struck up from the metal of the member 29, as shown at 62 in Fig. 4, or otherwise formed, as desired. These vane members serve to direct the air delivered by the fan I8 from the periphery of the fan toward the central opening this absorbing material need be changed but in-Y frequently.

The nozzle member 20 is preferably made of some flexible, durable and easily-severabl ma terial, such as rubber, and is shown as having a tubular portion 49 adapted to fit over the nipple 32 of thecasing, and a fiat mouth portion 50, which I may retain in shape by a spreader member shown at 5I. I prefer to use a U-shaped piece of spring Wire for such a spreader member. This nozzle 20 will usually be provided with a tubular portion 49 longer than necessary. so that, when installing the unit it is only necessary to place it in the proper position and cut off the portion of the tube 49 not needed. The nozzle 20 is sufliciently rigid to be held in operative position at all times by the nipple 32. Thus theunit may be readily moved if desired, and the member 20 is easily removed for cleaning purposes, if necessary.

If it is'desired to operate the filter automatically by pressure upon the toiletv seat, rather than by 53, molded in the rubber. These members 53 may be of hard rubber or of metal. In this case I provide a quick make-and-break'switch 5l, in place of the switch 40, which may be operated byV a device such as push rod 55, shown in Fig. 7, which,

-in turn, is operated by a toggle connection 56,

actuated by pressure upon the seat. The push rod 5- 55 may be of a well-known type, shown as having a protective casing 51, extending from the metal casing 4I adjacent the switch, through the wall of the nozzle 29 to an end piece 59, molded in the mouth-portion 50 of the nozzle.4 A spring 59 is l0 shown for the purpose of holding the head 63 of the push-rod against the toggle 56. This serves to open the switch when the pressure on the seat is removed.

A modification of the automatic control mecha- 15 nism is shown in Fig-12, whereparts, having similar functions to those just described, have been similarly numbered. -The quick make-andbreak switch 54 is here shown supported by the nozzle 20 adjacent the toilet bowl and wires 36 20 trol on the nozzle is that the user need only place the device in position, upon which, it is ready to operate. 1

It will be seen that most of theparts of my device may be easily stamped from sheet metal. The casing may be assembled in three main portions. The lower would include parts 23 and 24. The middle portion would include parts 26, 23 and 30 29. The upper would include 32, 30 and 3| with the absorbing material in place. The motor with fan l1 in place might then be secured by bolts 21, which at the same time unite the lower and middle portions of .the casing.A Fan I8 might then be 35 lsecured to the motor shaft and the top portion of the casing attached to member 29. The leads 39 might then be connected to switch 40 and the members 4I secured-to the main casing. Placing the nozzle 20 on the nipple 32 would complete the 40 assembly.

While my device, as described, is substantially air-tight," yet small leaks in the casing would not defeat the purpose of my device, as all airl entering the apparatus must pass through the purify- 5 ing and absorbing. medium before being discharged.

The use of my invention does not cause a heating problem by removing air from the room and discharging it outside. 4The air is purined and re- 50 i and having 'a central opening and vanes adapted to direct a current of air towards the central 5 opening, and a second fan mounted on the motor shaft and beneath the second diaphragm.

' 2. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a casing generally cylindrical in shape having a lower portion enclosing a motor and a fan, a middle por- 7 tion slightly smaller in diameter than the nrstmentioned portion, said middle portion enclosing a second fan and a top portion slightly smaller in diameter than the second-mentioned portion, said top portion enclosing absorbingmaterial. n

' 3. In an apparatus of the class described. the combination ofa casing substantially cylindrical in shape, absorbing means within the casing and adjacent the top thereof, a pair ot superposed fans therebeneath, a motor beneath the fans. and four reinforcing rings contacting the walls of the cas ing, one at the bottom, a second adjacent the motor, and one adjacent each fan.

' parts', portions oi one part containing a replace able deodorlzing substance and being adapted to overlie portions ot the other part, a motor sup-` port and ian arrangement carried by the lower casing, and means for securing the portions oi the casing together and securing the support to the casing.

6. In an apparatus oi' the class described, a rubber nozzle having a tubular portion, and a flared mouth portion, said mouth portion beingmaintained in shape by a U-shaped metallic member.

7. The combination with a toilet bowl and its associated seat, of a casing containing air-conditioning means, including a motor, a switch con- 10 trollingv the motor circuit, a iiexible nozzle communicating with the casing. said nozzle being adapted to lie between the bowl and the seat, a spring carried by said nozzle remote from said casing and operatively associated with the nozzle is and the seat and normally maintaining the seat in a slightly raised position. means for closing the switch upon compression of the spring, and means for opening the switch upon release of the spring compression.

CARL A. DUFFNER. 

